by Liz Bonis, WKRC

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) – New research shows a few foods may help a person’s bones and their memory, as well.

Many people know that milk and other foods with calcium and vitamin D are needed for strong bones. There is new evidence that the same diet may also build a person’s brain.

It appears the brain has more abnormal plaque in those who have poor bone density.

Dr. Howard Schertzinger said soft or porous bone can cause the spine to collapse.

“This model is showing that curve that patients do not want,” said Dr. Schertzinger, Director of OrthoCincy’s Bone Health Center.

A study in the journal ‘Neurology’ reviewed more than 36,000 older adults. Researchers found those with soft bones were at greater risk of being diagnosed with memory problems in the next decade. Those with the lowest bone mass had double the risk of being diagnosed with dementia, compared to those with the strongest bone mass.

Researchers said this doesn’t mean thinning bones cause dementia, but that bone decline may be an early part of dementia, before thinking and memory problems even show up.

That means foods to fight both should be eaten when a person is still young enough to have forming bones.

“The key is the vitamin D. Because in young folks with referrals, often for stress fractures, even with athletes, and we’ll do their calcium and vitamin D, and it’s in the teens. And they should be in the forties,” Dr. Schertzinger said.

In addition to diary, these nutrients are found in leafy greens, broccoli, nuts and salmon.

One step to starting a bone-brain diet is three servings a day of dairy. That can be a serving of milk, cheese and yogurt every day.